A Tourist in my own town???

[Kilted in Maine]

I had a case of mistaken identity last night...we were mistaken for tourists in our own town!

We live in the Lakes Region of Maine and a new restaurant just opened down the street. So, of course we had to try it out. We went out to dinner with our two boys (5 and 2) --- Bad decision!!!!

The 5 yr old was somewhat under control, at first, but our 2 year old was another story. (He has his molars coming in and has been cranky the past week). He just wouldn't sit down and had no interest in eating more than a bite or two at a time. We eventually gave in and let him run around on a patio section that wasn't being used. So of course the older on had to join in. My wife and I ended up taking turns between eating and watching them.

An older couple was next to us was watching us -- smiling and laughing. At one point the gentleman looked to me and my wife and blessed us with the sign of the cross asking "Its this the beginning or end of the week?". He assumed we were "From Away" (slang for "tourist" in Maine) and on vacation. I told him, No, we live just down the street and can't use vacation as an excuse --- They are always like this!!!!

It looks like take-out for a while longer!!

[davedove]

That's interesting. Somehow I must put out the opposite vibe. Maybe I just normally act like I know where I'm going, because people often ask me for directions, even if I've never been to the place before.

But then, I must make myself well versed on the area, because I can often give them the directions.

[Spc. Scott]

Yeah I know that feeling. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old and the oldest one can be a handful. My youngest is a polar opposite and my wife and I have found ourselves saying thing like you should take a lesson from your little brother.

The only trick I know is to keep my oldest working on something as long as possible. Doesn't always work of course but some days he surprises me.

[Kiltman]

Wonderful story, something like that happens to us all.

[12stones]

Ah...unfortunately, believe or not, these are the easy times. Give it about 3 years and you'll look back and wonder what happened to quiet evenings like the one you described. My girls are 5 and 7 (8 next month) and it's always, "Stop touching me!" "She hit me!" "Give it back, that's mine!" "Daaaaaaad!"

[tomcherv]

I have two boys, 7 and 12. I love them dearly, but there are times when I would like to have some time to myself.

My wife and I just finished a 9 day vacation to the Black Hills/Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone.

The boys were quite good, which made the vacation a lot of fun. But, I think letting them bring their GameBoys and purchasing a portable dvd player for the van helped, especially on the 8+ hour driving days.

[davedove]

Ah...unfortunately, believe or not, these are the easy times. Give it about 3 years and you'll look back and wonder what happened to quiet evenings like the one you described. My girls are 5 and 7 (8 next month) and it's always, "Stop touching me!" "She hit me!" "Give it back, that's mine!" "Daaaaaaad!"

Don't forget the words of the Trace Adkins song:
"You're gonna miss this.
You're gonna want this back.
You're gonna wish these days,
Hadn't gone by so fast."

[Andrewson]

If we can go back to the original topic in this thread (not that I don't agree that you should enjoy the youngsters when they are those wonderful ages), I was very surprised the other day when I wandered into a relatively new shop in the town where I have been living these last 40 years to be asked by the shopkeeper: "Are you down on holiday?"

That's "down" as in "down from Scotland" in this southern part of England.

The kilt clearly misled the poor man.